Machining center

ABSTRACT

A machining center including a machine main body, an upper section of which supports a head moving device and a head raising and lowering device, configured such that tool magazine  120  is stored inside the machine main body, and with a magazine moving device configured to move tool magazine  120  such that, during tool exchange, tool magazine  120  is advanced to protrude from a side of the machine main body, so that, from the multiple tool holders, the tool holder used for exchange is positioned inside the movement range of the main shaft by the head moving device, and wherein the entire tool magazine  120  is able to be moved beyond the movement range of the tool magazine by the magazine moving device to a position outside of the machine main body and detached from the machine main body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a machining center capable of automatically exchanging a tool attached to a main shaft.

BACKGROUND ART

Disclosed in patent literature 1 below is a vertical machining center provided with: (A) a main shaft head including a main shaft on which a tool is attached and a main shaft rotating device that rotates the main shaft; (B) a head raising and lowering device that moves the main shaft head in a vertical direction; (C) a head moving device that moves the main shaft head in a horizontal plane by moving it in two perpendicular directions; (D) a work table that holds a work; and (E) a tool magazine for storing multiple tools equipped with multiple tool holders that each hold a tool to be attached to the main shaft, wherein one of the multiple tools stored in the tool magazine can be automatically exchanged with the tool attached to the main shaft; this vertical machining center is otherwise known as a machining center provided with an automatic tool exchange device.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1

JP-A-2005-34933

SUMMARY

With the machining center disclosed in the above patent literature 1, the tool magazine is arranged in a central section of the machine, specifically, between the work table and the control box and under the moving device that moves the main shaft. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is difficult to approach the tool magazine to perform tool exchange or maintenance. The present disclosure takes account of the above circumstances and an object thereof is to provide a machining center for which tool exchange and maintenance of the tool magazine is easy to perform.

To solve the above problem the present disclosure of a machining center is provided with a machine main body, an upper section of which supports a head moving device and a head raising and lowering device, is configured such that a tool magazine is stored inside the machine main body, and has a magazine moving device configured to move the tool magazine such that, during tool exchange, the tool magazine is advanced to protrude from a side of the machine main body, so that, from the multiple tool holders, the tool holder used for exchange is positioned inside the movement range of the main shaft by the head moving device, and wherein the entire tool magazine is able to be moved beyond the movement range of the tool magazine by the magazine moving device to a position outside of the machine main body and detached from the machine main body.

EFFECTS

According to the machining center of the present disclosure, a configuration for moving the tool magazine is used such that the entire magazine body is moved to a position outside the machine main body and detached from the machine main body, therefore tool exchange and maintenance of the tool magazine can be performed easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a machining system on which is loaded an embodiment of the present disclosure of a machining center, from the front right of the system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the machining system of FIG. 1 viewed from the left front side, in a state in which some of the external panels are open.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the machining system of FIG. 1 viewed from the left front side, in a state with the external panels removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a device for transporting work that is applicable to the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a work module of FIG. 3 pulled from the base in the rearwards direction.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a machining center that is an embodiment of the present disclosure from the front left.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a machining center that is an embodiment of the present invention from the front right.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tool magazine provided in the machining center shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows the tool magazine detached from the machine main body.

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged portion from FIG. 9 around the tool magazine.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of a machining center that is an embodiment of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that for the present disclosure, as well as the below embodiment, embodiments with various changes based on the knowledge of someone skilled in the art are possible.

Configuration of machining system on which present disclosure of a machining center is loaded

First, before describing a machining system on which is loaded a machining center that is an embodiment of the present disclosure, a related machining system is described (this is also sometimes referred to as a “related system”). The related system, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, is configured from items including base 10, and four work modules (also referred to as “modules”) 12 arranged on base 10. FIG. 1 shows a system with the external panels attached, FIG. 2 shows the system with some of the external panels open, and FIG. 3 shows the system with the external panels removed. Note that, in the following descriptions, the side at which operation panel 14 is provided is referred to as the front side, and the “front and rear”, “left and right”, and “up and down” sides of the system are respectively the front and rear, left and right, and up and down when looking at the system from the front side. That is, the left and right direction in which the four modules 12 are arranged is the arrangement direction, and the front and rear direction is the intersecting direction, which is the direction perpendicular to (intersecting) the arrangement direction.

Each of the four work modules shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a lathe module, which is a modularized lathe, that performs cutting processing on work W4 (refer to FIG. 3) positioned at a work position using bite 20 held on head 18 by work W4 being rotated by spindle 16. With this related system, the work is transferred between each module 12 by work transporting device 22. At each module 12, work transported by work transport device 22 is attached to a chuck, which is a holding tool attached to the tip of spindle 16 by work moving device 24. Also, work for which processing by module 12 is complete is transferred from the chuck to work transporting device 22 by work moving device 24, and is transported to the next module 12 by work transporting device 22.

Also, in the related system, instead of the above work transporting device 22 and work moving device 24, it is possible to use a work transporting attachment and detachment device 26 that is capable of performing both sets of work. This work transporting attachment and detachment device 26, as shown in FIG. 4, is movable in the arrangement direction along pair of rails 28 attached to the front surface of base 10, such that work is able to be transported along multiple modules 12. Also, work transporting attachment and detachment device 26 includes articulated arm 30, and chuck 32 provided at the leading end of arm 30 as a holding tool for holding work. That is, work transporting attachment and detachment device 26 extends arm 30 to the processing position of module 12, receives work from the processing position and attaches work at the processing position using chuck 32.

Note that, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the work and some configuration elements are omitted or show schematically. W1 of FIGS. 2 and W4 of FIG. 3 schematically represent work positioned at a set work position, W2 of FIG. 2 schematically represents work transferred across modules 12 by the transporting device, and W3 schematically represents the occupied space range of work while being moved to the work position inside each module 12.

As understood from FIGS. 1 to 3, the four modules 12 have substantially the same shape, dimension, and structure and are closely arranged at a set arrangement pitch in the arrangement direction. The gap between each module 12 is 50 mm or less, and in actuality the four modules 12 are arranged with practically no gap between them. Each of the modules 12 has a general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and the dimension in the right-left direction (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “module width”) is significantly smaller than the dimension in the front-rear direction (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “module length”). Also, base 10 has substantially the same left-right dimension as the overall left-right dimension of four modules when the four modules are loaded on the base. That is, base 10 is just large enough in the left-right direction for four modules 12 to be loaded.

Base 10 is configured from items including two base units 34 lined and affixed to each other. As shown in FIG. 5, two modules 12 are able to be loaded on each base unit 34. Each of the two base units 34 is standardized and both base units have the same shape, dimension, and structure.

As shown in FIG. 5, a quantity of rail pairs 36 corresponding to the quantity of modules 12 mounted on each base unit 34, that is, specifically, two rail pairs 36, are provided parallel to the arrangement direction. One rail pair 36 has a pair of rails 38 laid out at an interval extending in the intersecting direction (front-rear direction). Rails 38 mark the path along which module 12 moves when module 12 is pulled out. In the respective modules 12, a pair of wheels 40 at each of the front and rear, that is, two pairs of wheels 40, are rotatably held in bed 42. Module 12 is easily pulled out from base unit 34 in both directions, that is, in the frontwards direction or the rearwards direction, by the two pairs of wheels 40 rotating on the pair of rails 38. Note that, in FIG. 2 the module 12 further to the right is pulled forward in the intersecting direction, and in FIG. 3 the second module 12 from the right is pulled forward in the intersecting direction.

Further, modules 12 are able to be pulled all the way off base unit 34. Pulling out of modules 12 is shown in FIG. 5, which shows a module being pulled out from the rearwards direction using trolley 44. Trolley 44 includes pair of rails 46 with the same cross section and gap between them as pair of rails 36 provided on base unit 34; the pair of rails 46 are set against base 10 so as to extend the pair of rails 38. In that state, a portion or all of module 12 is able to be moved onto trolley 44.

Configuration of machining system on which present embodiment of a machining center is loaded

As described above, with the above related system, each lathe module 12 is able to be removed from and loaded on base 10, such that exchange with another work module is possible, such as different work module 50 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Work module 50 is a modularized vertical machining center, and as described later in detail, performs cutting processing on work W5 fixedly held on a work table using a drill or endmill. In the descriptions below, work module 50 is sometimes referred to as drilling mill module 50. Note that, drilling mill module 50 is a machining center that is an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Drilling mill module 50 as a processing module uses the same bed 42 as the above lathe module 12, and has the same module width. That is, similar to lathe module 12, drilling mill module 50 has a module width significantly smaller than the dimension in the front-rear direction. Described below in detail is the configuration of drilling mill module 50 with a small module width as above, and the configuration of the machining system that includes the drilling mill module 50.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, drilling mill module 50 is provided with bed 42 that rotatably holds multiple wheels 40, module main body 52 that is set on bed 42 and that performs processing work, and control box 54 that controls module main body 52. Module main body 52 is provided with module main body 60 fixed on bed 42, main shaft head 62 the lower end of which holds a tool, head raising and lowering device 64 that moves main shaft head 62 in a vertical direction, head moving device 66 that moves main shaft head 62 in a horizontal plane by moving it in two perpendicular directions, and work table 68 that holds work W5.

An upper section of machine main body 60 supports head moving device 66 and head raising and lowering device 64. First slider 70 is supported on the upper section of machine main body 60 so as to be slidable in the front-rear directions using pair of guide rails 72 provided on first slider 70 and multiple bearings 74 provided on machine main body 60. First slider 70 is moved in the front and rear directions by a front and rear moving mechanism that includes a front and rear motor 76, a ball screw, and the like. Also, as a head holding body that holds main shaft head 62, second slider 80 is supported on first slider 70 so as to be slidable in left and right directions along pair of guide rails 82 provided on a front surface of first slider 70. Second slider 80 is moved in left and right directions by a left and right moving mechanism that includes a left and right motor 84, ball screw mechanism 86, and the like. That is, head moving device 66 is configured from items including first slider 70, pair of guide rails 72, bearings 74, a forwards and backwards moving mechanism, second slider 80, pair of guide rails 82, and a left and right moving mechanism.

Main shaft head 62 is supported on second slider 80 so as to be slidable in left and right directions by pair of guide rails 90 provided on main shaft head 62 and multiple bearings provided on second slider 80. Note that, raising and lowering device 64 has main configuration elements such as head raising and lowering motor 94 and a ball screw mechanism, and main shaft head 62 is moved in a vertical direction by head raising and lowering device 64.

Main shaft head 62 is supported at a position further forward than the front surface of machine main body 60 by a configuration of the above head moving device 66 and head raising and lowering device 64. Main shaft head 62 includes a main shaft rotating device configured from a main body of main shaft 100 that extends vertically and the lower end of which holds a tool such as a drill or endmill, and main shaft rotating motor 102 that rotates main shaft 100 about its own axis.

Work table 68 is supported in a state extending from the front surface to the rear surface of machine main body 60. Module main body 52 is provided with table rotating device 106 that rotates work table 68 around an axis line that extends in the front-rear direction, and is capable of performing processing using a tool on work W5 held at an angle. Note that, the table rotating device may rotate the work table in a direction other than the front-rear direction, such as a left-right direction, or a direction between the front-rear direction and left-right direction wherein rotation occurs around an axis line that extends in a horizontal direction. In other words, the table rotating mechanism may perform rotation around a vertical axis, or around both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

Note that, in the machining system, work is moved from an adjacent module to work table 68 by work transporting attachment and detachment device 26 that includes the articulated arm 30 shown in FIG. 4, and work for which processing by drilling mill module 50 is complete is moved from work table 68 to the next module.

Drilling mill module 50, when performing cutting processing on work, performs cutting processing while applying coolant to the work. Also, shavings are generated during the cutting processing. The present machining system is configured to take account of this coolant and shavings. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, coolant tank 110 that stores coolant is built into base unit 34. And, entrance 112 for coolant and shavings to enter coolant tank 110 is provided on an upper surface of the front side of base unit 34 so as to be positioned below work table 68 provided in a forwards direction of module main body 60. Whilst omitting detailed descriptions, coolant tank 110 is provided with an internal screw conveyor such that coolant and shavings are separated and only the shavings are fed to the rear side of coolant tank 110. Coolant tank 110 protrudes from the rear side of base unit 34, and discharge duct 114 of the screw conveyor is provided on that protruding rear end section. That is, shavings that are generated at the position to the front side of module 50 are fed to the rear side by the screw conveyor provided inside coolant tank 110, past discharge duct 114, and discharged from the rear of this system. Note that, the shavings discharge device that discharges shavings received by base 10 from the rear of base 10 includes items such as coolant tank 110 and the screw conveyor.

Also, drilling mill module 50 includes tool magazine 120 that stores multiple tools that attach to main shaft 100, and one of the multiple tools stored in tool magazine 120 is configured to be automatically exchangeable with a tool attached to main shaft 100. Tool magazine 120 is stored inside machine main body 60, and as shown in FIG. 7, during tool exchange, protrudes from the opening provided on the front surface of machine main body 60. Note that, as shown in FIG. 6, during processing work by drilling mill module 50, that opening is covered by cover 124, such that coolant and shavings and the like are prevented from entering inside machine main body 60 and getting on items such as tools stored in tool magazine 120.

As shown in FIG. 8, tool magazine 120 includes multiple tool holders (hereinafter, also sometimes referred to simply as “holders”) 130 that each hold a tool in an orientation extending in the vertical direction. That is, tool magazine 120 houses multiple tools such that the axis lines of each are parallel. Note that, as shown in FIG. 8(a), usually, one or more holders 130 does not hold a tool, such that a holder is empty for receiving a tool attached to main shaft 100. T in FIG. 8 schematically represents the empty storage range for tools held in each holder 130.

The above multiple tool holders 130 are arranged on an elongated oval that is long in the front-rear direction (intersecting direction). Specifically, tool magazine 120 includes roller chain 134 provided on two sprockets 132, and by the multiple tool holders 130 being fixed to roller chain 134, each of the multiple roller chains 134 is arranged along the elongated oval that is long in the intersecting direction. That is, tool magazine 120 has a small dimension in the left-right direction (arrangement direction) because the multiple tool holders are arranged along an elongated oval.

Tool magazine 120 includes a sprocket drive motor for rotating sprockets 132 forwards (the right side in the figures), and reduction device 138 that transmits the rotation of the sprocket rotating motor to sprocket 132. Tool magazine 120, by rotating sprockets 132 using the sprocket rotating motor, is able to rotate roller chain 134 such that the multiple tool holders 130 are circulated. That is, the tool holder circulating mechanism is configured from items including the two sprockets 132, roller chain 134, a sprocket rotating motor, and reduction device 138.

Also, tool magazine 120 is able to move in the front and rear directions due to pair of guide rails 150 fixed inside machine main body 60 extending in the front-rear direction, and bearings 150 as an guide engaging section fixed to the guide. Further, drilling mill module 50 is provided with magazine moving device 150 that moves tool magazine 120 in front and rear directions. Magazine moving device 150 is configured from items including a ball screw mechanism, and magazine moving motor 158 that rotates ball screw 156 of the ball screw mechanism. The nut of the ball screw mechanism is fixed to the bottom surface of tool magazine 120, and by rotating ball screw 156 using magazine rotating motor 158 fixed to machine main body 60, the entire tool magazine 120 is able to be moved in the front and rear directions.

Drilling mill module 50 advances tool magazine 120 using magazine moving device 150, and the front end of tool magazine 120 protrudes from an opening in machine main body 60. Then, in a state with tool magazine positioned at the front limit a tool holder 130 used for exchange of the multiple tool holders 130, that is, the tool holder 130 positioned at the front limit, is positioned within the range in which main shaft 100 can be moved by head moving device 66, and tool shaft 100 tool exchange is performed with respect to the holder 130 positioned at the front limit.

To describe tool exchange in more detail: first, tool magazine 120 is advanced by magazine moving device 150, and main shaft 100 is moved to the exchange position by head moving device 66. Note that, at tool magazine 120, before tool exchange, a holder 130 not holding a tool is positioned at the front limit of tool magazine 120. Holder 130 is configured to grasp with two claws, and main shaft 100 is moved to the rear, the tool attached to main shaft 100 is engaged by the gap between the two claws of holder 130, and that tool is grasped by the holder 130. Then, main shaft 100 is raised such that the tool is separated from main shaft 100. Continuing, tool holders 130 are circulated and a tool to be attached to main shaft 100 is positioned at the front limit of tool magazine 120. Next, main shaft 100 is lowered and the tool is attached to main shaft 100. Continuing, main shaft 100 is moved forwards, and by retracting tool magazine 120, the tool is released from holder 130, thus completing tool exchange.

Because the above drilling mill module 50, as described, uses bed 42 similar to that of lathe module 12, in a similar manner to lathe module 12, drilling mill module 50 can be pulled out from base 10 along a path extending in the intersecting direction (front-rear direction). In FIG. 9, the drilling mill module 50 on the right is shown pulled out forwards. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, drilling mill module 50 is able to move the entire tool magazine 120 to a position outside the machine main body using magazine moving device 150, such that the entire tool magazine 120 is outside machine main body 60 and detached from machine main body 60.

In the machining system detachment of tool magazine 120 from machine main body 60 is performed using temporary loading table 200 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Temporary loading table 200 includes pair of extension rails 202 with the same surface area and gap between them as pair of rails 150 provided on machine main body 60, and the pair of rails 202 are fixed with respect to drilling mill module 50 so as to extend the pair of rails 150. In a state fixed with respect to drilling mill module 50, a portion of or the entirety of tool magazine 120 is able to be moved onto temporary loading table 200.

Note that, when fixing temporary loading table 200 with respect to drilling mill module 50, power lifter 204 is used as a trolley. Temporary loading table 200 is loaded on power lifter 204 such that extension rails 202 are horizontal, and in a state supporting loading table 200, power lifter 204 is moved manually next to the machining system, that is, next to drilling mill module 50. On drilling mill module 50, first, the engagement with machine main body 60 of tool magazine 120 is released and the stopper of guide rails 150 is removed. Then, power lifter 204 is moved and the height of temporary loading table 200 is adjusted, power lifter 204 is positioned in a state such that extension rails 202 of temporary loading table 200 extend guide rails 150, and temporary loading table 200 is fixed to machine main body 60. Then, tool magazine 120 is pulled manually from machine main body 60, bearings 152 provided on tool magazine 120 as a guide engaging section are guided by extension rails 202, and tool magazine 120 is loaded on temporary loading table 200. Note that, for the tool magazine 120 loaded on temporary loading table 200, in the state shown in FIG. 9, maintenance or tool exchange may be performed, or the fixing of temporary loading table 200 with respect to machine main body 60 may be released and temporary loading table 200 may be moved by power lifter 204. For example, by preparing another tool magazine, tool exchange may be performed in a short time.

With this machining system, even though multiple modules including drilling mill module 50 are arranged closely adjacent to each other, it is possible to move tool magazine 120 stored inside machine main body 60 to a position outside of machine main body 60 using the configuration of magazine moving device 150, meaning that work such as tool exchange at tool magazine 120, or maintenance of tool magazine 120 can be performed easily.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10: base; 12: work module (lathe module); 26: work transporting attachment and detachment device; 34: base unit; 36: pair of rails; 38: rail; 40: wheel; 42: bed; 44: trolley; 46: rail; 50: drilling mill module (processing module); 52: machining center; 60: module main body; 62: main shaft head; 64: head raising and lowering device; 66: head moving device; 68: work table; 70: first slider; 76: front and rear motor; 80: second slider; 84: left and right moving motor; 94: head raising and lowering motor; 100: main shaft; 102: main shaft rotating motor; 106: table rotating device; 110: coolant tank; 112: entrance; 114: discharge duct; 120: tool magazine; 124: cover; 130: tool holder; 132: sprocket; 134: roller chain; 150: guide rail; 152: bearing (guide engaging section); 156: ball screw; 158: magazine moving motor; 200: temporary loading table; 202: pair of extension rails; 204: power lifter 

1. A machining center comprising: (A) a main shaft head including a main shaft on which a tool is attached and a main shaft rotating device that rotates the main shaft; (B) a head raising and lowering device that moves the main shaft head in a vertical direction; (C) a head moving device that moves the main shaft head in a horizontal plane by moving it in two perpendicular directions; (D) a work table that holds a work; and (E) a tool magazine for storing multiple tools equipped with multiple tool holders that each hold a tool to be attached to the main shaft, one of the multiple tools stored in the tool magazine being able to be automatically exchanged with the tool attached to the main shaft; a machine main body, an upper section of which supports the head moving device and the head raising and lowering device, the tool magazine being stored inside the machine main body, and a magazine moving device configured to move the tool magazine such that, during tool exchange, the tool magazine is advanced to protrude from a side of the machine main body, so that the tool holder used for exchange from the multiple tool holders is positioned inside the movement range of the main shaft by the head moving device, and wherein the entire tool magazine is able to be moved beyond the movement range of the tool magazine by the magazine moving device to a position outside of the machine main body and detached from the machine main body.
 2. The machining center according to claim 1, wherein the magazine moving device includes a guide rail attached to the machine main body, and a guide engaging section that is fixed to the tool magazine and guided along the guide rail, and the machining center is configured such that a temporary loading table with an extension rail that extends the guide rail can be fixed to the machining center so as to extend the guide rail, and the tool magazine moved onto the temporary loading table by being pulled out along the extension rail.
 3. The machining center according to claim 2, wherein the machining center supports the temporary loading table, and with the temporary loading table in a supported state, sets a movable trolley next to the machining center such that the guide rail is extended by the extension rail, allowing the tool magazine to be moved onto the temporary loading table by being pulled out along the extension rail.
 4. The machining center according to claim 1, wherein the multiple tool holders are arranged along an elongated oval that is long in the intersecting direction, and the tool magazine includes a tool holder circulating mechanism that circulates the multiple tool holders.
 5. The machining center according to claim 1, wherein the machining center is loaded on one of multiple work modules in a machining system that includes a base and multiple work modules arranged on the base in an arrangement direction.
 6. The machining center according to claim 1, wherein the multiple work modules are arranged closely adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction. 